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Objectives: Before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, federal law required in-person evaluation before buprenorphine initiation. Regulatory changes during the pandemic allow for buprenorphine initiation by audio-only or audiovisual telehealth. Little is known about treatment engagement after buprenorphine initiation conducted via audio-only telehealth. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 94 individuals who received initial treatment through an audio-only encounter between April 2020 and February 2021 was performed. Participant demographics, substance use history, withdrawal symptoms, 30-day treatment engagement, and adverse outcomes were determined by an electronic chart and REDcap database review. Subsequent buprenorphine prescriptions filled within 30 days of the initial encounter were tracked through the Rhode Island Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Results: Buprenorphine was prescribed for 94 individuals. Most (92 of 94 [97.9%]) filled their prescription within 30 days. Most had previously taken buprenorphine, including prescribed (42 of 92 [45.7%]) and nonprescribed (58 of 92 [63.0%]). Two thirds were in opioid withdrawal at the time of the call (61 of 92 [66.3%]) with a mean Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale of 26.8 (range, 4–57). Four individuals experienced precipitated withdrawal (4 of 94 [4.3%]), and 2 reported persistent withdrawal at their follow-up visit (2 of 94 [2.1%]). More than 70% filled a subsequent prescription for buprenorphine within 30 days of the end of their hotline prescription (65 of 92 [70.7%]), on average of 5.88 days (range, 0–28) after completion of their telehealth prescription. Conclusions: Expanding telehealth-delivered buprenorphine care has the potential to address treatment gaps and facilitate delivery of on-demand services during peak motivation. This evaluation of audio-only buprenorphine initiation found high rates of unobserved buprenorphine initiation and treatment continuation with low rates of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current paper describes the use of token systems in a behavioral day-treatment unit for severe challenging behavior using a consecutive case review spanning three years. Methods: Experimenters reviewed 96 patient case files, 24 of which implemented some token system as a component of the individual's treatment package. Aspects of each token system (including schedules of token delivery and exchange; inclusion of token training and response cost; and types of backup reinforcers delivered), and participant characteristics were coded. Results: Token systems were most frequently employed during differential reinforcement for alternative behavior (DRA, most commonly for compliance) or differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO). Tokens were most frequently used in an instructional context. Several commonalities were identified (e.g. restriction of backup reinforcers between token exchanges and initial dense schedules of reinforcement). Compared to past reviews, this sample had an over-representation of individuals with challenging behavior maintained by escape, multiply maintained challenging behavior, and individuals for which the function was not identified in a functional analysis. Treatment packages including token systems resulted in a reduction in challenging behavior for 91.67% of participants, with 70.83% exhibiting at least an 80% reduction. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that token systems may be a beneficial component of treatment plans used to address challenging behavior. Some common components should likely be included in all token systems and specific client variables may guide decisions related to idiosyncratic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behçet's Disease is a syndrome characterized by recurrent, painful oral aphthous ulcers, in conjunction with 2 or more systemic manifestations – a common systemic manifestation of the disease being cutaneous lesions, which often present as papules that ulcerate to form ulcerations which exhibit the same pathergy phenomenon as pyoderma gangrenosum and are thus difficult to heal. We present a case of a type 2 diabetic male with previously undiagnosed Behçet's Disease who presented to clinic with an atypical lower extremity wound. Due to the atypical nature of the patient's wound, combined with information from the patient regarding the history of the wound and other illnesses he had, the wound was biopsied and the results from the biopsy combined with clinical suspicion yielded a diagnosis of Behçet's Disease. After understanding the nature of the wound, management of the ulceration was adjusted appropriately so as to properly treat the patient with both local wound care and medical management for the disease. Patient was referred to rheumatology for further workup and long-term management of Behçet's Disease. Correct identification and treatment of the systemic disease, as well as the lower extremity ulcerations, in patients with Behçet's Disease are critical to avoid organ and limb-threatening complications. Had the diagnosis of Behçet's not been made in this case, the patient's wound would have been at increased risk of disease-related complications – ranging from non-healing ulceration leading to amputation to renal failure to loss of eyesight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many addiction treatment and harm reduction organizations have had to reduce their hours and services for people with substance use disorders, placing these individuals at increased risk of death. In order to address restricted treatment access during COVID-19, guidance from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the US Department of Health and Human Services has allowed for use of audio-only telehealth encounters for buprenorphine induction without requiring an in-person evaluation or video interface. This has enabled innovations in order to try to meet the needs of the most vulnerable among us during the current pandemic. In this new regulatory environment, we established the Rhode Island Buprenorphine Hotline, a phone hotline which functions as a ''tele-bridge'' clinic where people with moderate to severe opioid use disorder can be linked with a DATA 2000 waivered provider who can provide an initial assessment and, if appropriate, prescribe buprenorphine for unobserved induction and linkage to outpatient treatment. In this correspondence we briefly share our experience developing this common sense approach to addressing the complex problem of access to treatment only now permissible due to regulatory changes during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential for allowing persons living with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. However, a large portion of this population has suboptimal adherence and are not virally suppressed. Conventional interventions aimed at improving ART adherence lack portability and scalability, and improvements in adherence are not often sustained. Mobile health (mHealth) ART interventions offer a low-cost and accessible method of improving adherence, but many have limited functionality and do not offer comprehensive support. The combination of an mHealth intervention with a face-to-face adherence intervention and interactive health coaching feature may offer sufficient support in a manner that is sensitive to resource limitations that are often found in HIV treatment settings. This paper details the protocol of a study designed to evaluate the potential of an enhanced mHealth intervention for improving ART adherence. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Fitbit Plus app enhanced with a face-to-face LifeSteps session (Fitbit Plus condition) for improving ART adherence. In addition, we will determine the preliminary efficacy of the intervention by calculating treatment effect sizes. Methods: This study will be conducted in 2 phases. The intervention will be developed and piloted with a small group of participants during phase 1. Pilot participants will provide feedback that will be used to refine the intervention for phase 2. In phase 2, a preliminary randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing Fitbit Plus with a condition that approximates the standard of care (SOC) will be conducted with 60 persons living with HIV. Interviews will be conducted with RCT participants at baseline, and follow-up interviews will be conducted at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. ART adherence is the primary outcome and will be monitored throughout the study via electronic pill boxes. Effect sizes will be generated using a fractional logit model estimated by generalized estimating equations. Results: Phase 1 of this trial is complete; data collection for phase 2 is ongoing. Follow-ups with enrolled participants will conclude in January 2020. Conclusions: This study will contribute to the literature on ART adherence and may produce an efficacious intervention. Owing to a small sample size, there may be insufficient power to detect statistically significant differences between Fitbit Plus and SOC. However, if Fitbit Plus is found to be acceptable and feasible and yields promising effect size estimates, this pilot study could serve as the foundation for a larger, fully powered trial of Fitbit Plus. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02676128; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02676128 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/15356 We help JMIR researchers to raise funds to pursue their research and development aimed at tackling important health and technology challenges. If you would like to show your support for this author, please donate using the button below. The funds raised will directly benefit the corresponding author of this article (minus 8% admin fees). Your donations will help this author to continue publishing open access papers in JMIR journals. Donations of over $100 may also be acknowledged in future publications. Suggested contribution levels: $20/$50/$100 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]